Junior Middleweight: 2014, Jun 23-29

Weltereweight contender Devon Alexander got a very debatable decision over Jesus Soto Karass on Saturday at a catchweight of 149. Theoretically, they could both be ranked here based on the nebulous outcome (I’ll discuss that more in my welterweight update), but I just don’t think that makes a darned lick of sense. Both guys, especially Alexander, are still Welterweights, and Alexander’s performance is not worthy of his present ranking at welterweight, much less a new one at 154. This isn’t any kind of precedent going forward. It’s just common sense as I see it. No changes.

Dan’s Top 20 (Weeks in Current Position-Weeks in Top 10 if applicable-Weeks in Top 20)Champ: None1) Saul Alvarez (16-173-188)Last Fight: 3/8/2014- TKO10 #10 Alfredo Angulo (at 155)Next Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #3 Erislandy LaraCanelo came knocking, and Lara answered the door.2) Carlos Molina (16-155-170)Last Fight: 9/14/2013- W (SD12) vs. #5 Ishe SmithNext Fight: UnknownMolina and Bundrage haven’t reached a deal for their IBF-mandated fight is scheduled for purse bids on June 24.3) Erislandy Lara (16-155-177)Last Fight: 12/7/2013- UD12 #4 Austin TroutNext Fight: 7/12/2014- vs. #1 Saul AlvarezLara traded an intended fight with Ishe Smith for a more lucrative and important showdown with Canelo. The fight might not determine a legitimate champion, but it should at least crown a preeminent top contender.4) Miguel Cotto (3-212-212)Last Fight: 6/7/2014- RTD10 MW Champ Sergio Martinez (at MW)Next Fight: UnknownCotto is now the Middleweight Champion, so it remains to be seen if he’ll continue to fight at 154 at all. He’s reportedly interested in fighting Canelo, in a likely catchweight fight, if Canelo can get by Lara.5) Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (3-41-41)Last Fight: 5/3/2014- W* (MD12) vs. #4 WW Marcos Maidana (at WW)Next Fight: 9/13/2014- vs. Unknown OpponentFloyd will be fighting on September 13. A Maidana rematch remains a possibility.6) Austin Trout (3-108-177)Last Fight: 12/7/2013- L (UD12) vs. #5 Erislandy LaraNext Fight: 7/19/2014- vs. Daniel Dawson (UNR)Trout will look to get back on track with a fairly easy Friday Night Fights main event against upper mid-level Australian journeyman Daniel Dawson, who was once a fringe contender, but not since 2007.7) Ishe Smith (3-70-70)Last Fight: 5/2/2014- KO2 Ryan Davis (UNR)Next Fight: UnknownI know he was a relatively short-notice replacement, but Ryan Davis was a little too hapless even by that standard.8) Joshua Clottey (3-11-11)Last Fight: 4/9/2014- UD12 #7 Anthony MundineNext Fight: UnknownFor those looking for a good way to revitalize a practically evaporated career, you couldn’t do much better than the example Clottey just provided. He wants to fight Mayweather, but I’d say he’s at least one top 5 win away from having a chance at that.9) Anthony Mundine (11-30-30)Last Fight: 4/9/2014- L (UD12) vs. Joshua Clottey (UNR)Next Fight: UnknownMundine is reportedly in talks to bring the now much larger and also more retired Danny Green into a rematch.10) Cornelius Bundrage (11-203-203)Last Fight: 1/24/2014- UD12 Joey Hernandez (UNR)Next Fight: UnknownSee Molina’s notes, above.11) Demetrius Andrade (2-33)Last Fight: 6/14/2014- TKO7 #20 Brian RoseNext Fight: UnknownAfter manhandling an overrated Brian Rose, Andrade says he’s ready for the big names.12) Alfredo Angulo (2-248)Last Fight: 3/8/2014- L (TKO10) vs. #4 Saul AlvarezNext Fight: UnknownAngulo could probably use a fight with a gatekeeper or low level fringe contender just to get his career momentum going.13) Sergey Rabchenko (2-106)Last Fight: 11/16/2013- UD12 Bradley Pryce (UNR)Next Fight: UnknownRabchenko’s fight in Rome was cancelled on 3 days’ notice due to Visa issues, and his would-be opponent, journeyman Emanuele Della Rosa, will be fighting undefeated prospect Isaac Real for what had been Rabchenko’s European title.14) Jermell Charlo (2-55)Last Fight: 5/24/2014- UD12 Charlie Ota (UNR)Next Fight: Unknown15) Vanes Martirosyan (3-160)Last Fight: 3/21/2014- UD10 Mario Lozano (UNR)Next Fight: UnknownVanes was supposed to fight on the Stiverne-Arreola card from what I understood, but that fight quietly disappeared from the schedule at some unknown point in time. He’s been dropped by Top Rank and signed with Dan Goossen, as well.16) Brian Castaño (3-3)Last Fight: 6/6/2014- TKO4 #15 Cesar Sastre SilvaNext Fight: UnknownCastano looked like kind of a beast against Sastre Silva. Only time will tell if he really is a beast, was beating up on an overrated fringe contender, or some combination of those possibilities.17) Gabriel Rosado (6-22)Last Fight: 1/25/2014- L (UD10) vs. #18 Jermell CharloNext Fight: 8/16/2014- vs. #10 SMW Bryan Vera (at MW)Rosado will be fighting Bryan Vera in a new event called Big Knockout Boxing. The knockdown rules are different, and the ring is replaced with a circular “pit.” I probably won’t know if it will count in the rankings until I’ve had a chance to see it in action.18) Zaurbek Baysangurov (6-11)Last Fight: 4/12/2014- TKO12 #20 Guido PittoNext Fight: UnknownBaysangurov looked the best I’ve seen him, by far, against Pitto.19) Willie Nelson (6-69)Last Fight: 6/7/2014- TKO1 Darryl Cunningham (UNR) (at MW)Next Fight: UnknownNelson has until Monday to schedule a fight at 154 to avoid removal for inactivity at the weight.20) Kell Brook (2-2)Last Fight: 3/15/2014- TKO8 Alvaro Robles (UNR)Next Fight: 8/16/2014- vs. #6 WW Shawn Porter (at WW)Brook is really a welterweight (and a top 10 contender at that weight), but has thrown in enough significant wins near the 154 limit to make himself independently a fringe contender at this weight. He’ll get a shot at a welterweight belt on August 16 against Shawn Porter in New York.